Tray Handler For Food Warming Apparatus

a technology of warming apparatus and handler, which is applied in the field of food preparation, can solve the problems of trays becoming too hot for users to touch directly, and the difficulty of meeting the efficiency demands of many high-volume restaurants

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-08-13
PRINCE CASTLE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In a second principal aspect, a food warming apparatus comprises a cabinet having at least one heating compartment therein, at least one tray handler that is able to move in at least a forward direction and a rearward direction in the at least one heating compartment, at least one tray for holding previously cooked food portions and disposed in the at least one tray handler, and at least one engagement structure disposed in the heating compartment. The at least one engagement structure is configured to engage the at least one tray handler, so as to impede but not prevent forward and rearward motion of

Problems solved by technology

Some of the challenges involved in designing a food warming apparatus involve increasing the safety of the apparatus and reducing spillage while maintaining a speedy workflow within the restaurant.
However, due to the holding temperatures often used, such trays can become too hot for users to touch directly.
This, in turn, can create safety concerns and can cause difficulties in meeting the efficiency demands of many high-volume restaurants.

Method used

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  • Tray Handler For Food Warming Apparatus
  • Tray Handler For Food Warming Apparatus
  • Tray Handler For Food Warming Apparatus

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
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Embodiment Construction

1. Overview

[0014]A food warming apparatus is able to maintain previously cooked food portions in a ready-to-use condition. The previously cooked food portions may be placed in one or more open-top containers, which are referred to herein as “trays.” The trays containing the previously cooked food portions may be placed in one or more heating compartments to maintain the portions at a desired temperature.

[0015]A tray may be disposed in a tray handler in order to facilitate movement of the tray within a heating compartment. An exemplary tray handler includes a frame for receiving the tray, one or more rollers that permit the tray to roll, and a handle that can be grasped by the user to roll the tray without touching a hot surface.

[0016]A roller may be a wheel or, alternatively, a roller could include one or more ball bearings, such as a ball bearing slide or caster. Alternatively, instead of rollers, a tray handler may be supported by one or more a low-friction elements (e.g., legs or...

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PUM

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Abstract

A food warming apparatus has a heating compartment for maintaining previously cooked food portions in a ready-to-use condition. The food portions are contained in a tray that is placed in a tray handler. The tray handler may include a frame for receiving the tray, a handle, and rollers. A tray handler guide in the heating compartment has a guide surface on which the rollers are able to roll and stops for engaging the rollers at a maintenance position and an access position. In the maintenance position, the tray is positioned inside the heating compartment so that the food portions are maintained in a ready-to-use condition. In the access position, a user is able to access food portions in the tray. At the maintenance and access positions, the user may sense the engagement of the rollers by sensing that the tray handler's motion is impeded but not prevented.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This invention relates to the field of food preparation. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus and method for maintaining food in a ready to use condition in which previously cooked food portions contained in a tray supported by a tray handler.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]In many establishments, such as fast food restaurants, certain food items are cooked well in advance of when they are ordered by or served to the customer. Examples of such food items can include sandwich fillings, such as cooked eggs, hamburger patties, breaded foods, such as chicken nuggets, or balked goods, such as muffins. These previously cooked food portions are often maintained in a ready-to-use condition until they served to the customer. This typically involves maintaining the previously cooked food portions at a serving temperature in the range of from about 140° F. to about 200° F., depending on the food item....

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47J43/00A47J47/20B65D1/34A47F5/00B65G65/00
CPCA47J39/006A47J37/0623
InventorVELTROP, LOREN J.LONG, ROBERT
OwnerPRINCE CASTLE